Blackwood Hotel and Apartments is a hotel in Dar es Salaam catering to business travellers and has partnered with Pesapal for four years to support its payment operations. With guests booking through online travel platforms and corporate companies, the hotel relies on a payment solution that accepts different cards, keeps transactions moving when internet connectivity is disrupted, and makes reconciliation easier for its finance team.
The challenge: Reconciling guest payments and maintaining reliable operations
Blackwood Hotel and Apartments caters to business travellers looking for a place to stay and recharge in the middle of Dar es Salaam's fast-paced environment. Its facilities include an on-site restaurant, indoor bar, swimming pool, fitness centre, sauna, massage services, laundry and parking.
Maintaining the hotel's service standards requires attention to detail, collaboration between teams and an understanding of each guest's needs. Payments are part of that experience, particularly for a hotel that receives a significant proportion of its guests through online booking platforms such as Booking.com and Expedia, as well as corporate companies.
Behind the guest experience, the finance team also needs to account for payments accurately. Before adopting Pesapal POS, reconciliation was a time-consuming process. The team had to compare its books and separate receipts to establish that the records matched.
For Mtembo, Chief Accountant at Blackwood Hotel and Apartments, this created additional work for the finance team.
The solution: Accepting card payments with Pesapal POS
Blackwood Hotel and Apartments has used Pesapal POS for four years, with the solution supporting its card payment operations and helping address the challenges the hotel previously faced.
The POS accepts all cards, making it suitable for a hotel serving international guests. The hotel also benefits from low transaction commissions, helping it manage the costs associated with accepting card payments.
Connectivity is another practical advantage. The POS operates using either a SIM card or internet connection. When a power outage disrupts the hotel's internet connection, the team can switch to a SIM card and continue processing payments, helping minimise interruptions to operations.
Support is also readily available when the hotel encounters an issue. The team can contact Pesapal by phone or email to get assistance.
For Henry Peter Simba, Residency Manager at Blackwood Hotel and Apartments, delivering a positive guest experience depends on service, attention to detail and collaboration across teams. Having a payment solution that supports the hotel's day-to-day operations helps the team maintain its focus on guests.
The impact: Easier reconciliation and faster access to settlements
For the finance team, one of the most significant changes has been the improvement in reconciliation.
Since adopting Pesapal POS, the hotel has found it easier to reconcile payments, reducing the manual effort previously involved in comparing records and separating receipts. This has helped simplify an important part of its financial operations.
Settlement is another benefit. According to Mtembo, payments are settled into the hotel's account immediately when a guest pays, giving the finance team faster access to funds.
The ability to reach Pesapal support by phone and email also gives the team a point of contact when issues arise, helping it address operational challenges.
After four years of working with Pesapal, Blackwood Hotel and Apartments continues to use the POS to support its payment operations, from accepting guest card payments to simplifying reconciliation and maintaining continuity when internet connectivity is disrupted.
